Smith Corona 03/A3

[WestPat03A3]

Hello,
I have a Smith Corona 03A3 that was sporterized in 1951. It has been in the family since then making the yearly appearance during hunting season. It was passed down to me at Christmas. Cosmetically the gun is in phenomenal shape, as is everything my grandad owns! It was made 11-43, and has a Weaver scope on it, not A4 though! Is there a website or a post here where I could educate myself a little more about the serial number, and the correctness of the bolt. I don't have any pictures right now. Hard Drive crash and gun is at In-laws four hours away.
Thanks for any help, I am a newbie!
David

Information

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[Rick the Librarian]

David,

Welcome to the forum! Just hang around here!

Can you tell what the serial number is? Has the rifle been otherwise sporterized besides the addition to the scope?

Regarding the bolt, look on the top of the bolt handle and the bottom (in the same place) for markings.

Unfortunately, drilling and tapping the receiver has removed most collector interest.

[WestPat03A3]

Sorry that it took forever to respond. It has been at my in-laws house and I finally brought it back home.
The serial is 4806648.
It is a Smith Corona 03-A3
The barrel has the front sites removed of course, but it says SC at the top with the ordnance bomb and 10 43.

The scope lookes to be mounted on part of the rear site ring and then at a point that partially blocks out Smith Corona.

The scope is a weaver K4 and is at least a 1951 model if not later. It is hard to tell the exact magnification because the scope ring covers it.

According to my Grandfather the gun was made in Waco,TX in 51 and the gunsmith made 10 that were just alike.

The bolt is probably a replacement even though it has an R on top of it and an R inside a circle 3/4 of the way down it. IDK.

It has a Monte Carlo stock, but the best I can tell the barrel and receiver have not been altered. The gun is immaculate and has only been fired over the last sixty years to sight in the scope and kill whitetail deer. It has been cleaned and oied at the end of every season.

I can send better pics but would rather send to an email than try to resize.
Hope that helps and thanks for your time. I plan on this gun being in the family for a long time so collector value really doesn't matter!
David

[Kirk]

A fellow who goes by VI Shooter has an excellent website dedicated to 1903 rifles. http://www.vishooter.net/m1903.html Your receiver is from Nov 1943 so you barrel is correct and likely original to the receiver.

[WestPat03A3]

Thanks I will check it out!